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Coping with the coronavirus pandemic

The top 25 escapist books to read in quarantine, per Goodreads

Mary Cadden Barbara VanDenburgh
USA TODAY
There are times when you just want to escape. And though escaping while quarantining may prove difficult during the coronavirus pandemic, you can do it without ever leaving your chair with a good book. Goodreads compiled its top 25 " feel-good " and escapist books based on members ' wish lists, reviews and trending titles, which members have been reading since the beginning of March. So put your feet up, open a book and get away from it all.
There are times when you just want to escape. And though escaping while quarantining may prove difficult during the coronavirus pandemic, you can do it without ever leaving your chair with a good book. Goodreads compiled its top 25 "feel-good" and escapist books based on members' wish lists, reviews and trending titles, which members have been reading since the beginning of March. So put your feet up, open a book and get away from it all.
Getty Images / Penelope Graßhoff.
1. " Untamed, " by Glennon Doyle • Nonfiction • About: The author shares with readers how to find their own inner voice and inner peace. It has appeared on many book club lists including Reese Witherspoon ' s, and Chelsea Handler ' s.
1. "Untamed,"by Glennon Doyle • Nonfiction • About:The author shares with readers how to find their own inner voice and inner peace. It has appeared on many book club lists including Reese Witherspoon's, and Chelsea Handler's.
The Dial Press
2. " Wow, No Thank You, " by Samantha Irby • Nonfiction • About: In her third volume of essays, Irby ( “ We Are Never Meeting in Real Life ” ) shares humorous and biting life reflections, mining some of life ’ s most embarrassing moments for insights and chuckles.
2. "Wow, No Thank You,"by Samantha Irby • Nonfiction • About: In her third volume of essays, Irby (“We Are Never Meeting in Real Life”) shares humorous and biting life reflections, mining some of life’s most embarrassing moments for insights and chuckles.
Vintage
3. “ Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, and Advice for Living Your Best Life, ” by Ali Wong • Nonfiction • About: The comedian and actress ' first book is everything her fans would expect: raunchy, real and uproariously funny .
3. “Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, and Advice for Living Your Best Life,” by Ali Wong  • Nonfiction • About: The comedian and actress' first book is everything her fans would expect: raunchy, real and uproariously funny.
Random House
4. " Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (as Told to Me) Story, " by Bess Kalb • Nonfiction • About: This original memoir by writer Bess Kalb focuses on her relationship with her late grandmother from life to beyond the grave.
4."Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (as Told to Me) Story," by Bess Kalb • Nonfiction • About: This original memoir by writer Bess Kalb focuses on her relationship with her late grandmother from life to beyond the grave.
Knopf
5. " Deacon King Kong, " by James McBride • Fiction • About: When a church deacon known as Sportcoat shoots a housing project ’ s drug dealer at point-blank range, it reverberates throughout the community.
5. "Deacon King Kong," by James McBride • Fiction • About: When a church deacon known as Sportcoat shoots a housing project’s drug dealer at point-blank range, it reverberates throughout the community.
Riverhead
6. " The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, " by Josie Silver • Fiction • About: Lydia Bird is at a crossroads after losing the love of her life in a car accident, with one path leading to a new life, and another magically leading to her old life with lost love Freddie.
6. "The Two Lives of Lydia Bird," by Josie Silver • Fiction • About: Lydia Bird is at a crossroads after losing the love of her life in a car accident, with one path leading to a new life, and another magically leading to her old life with lost love Freddie.
Ballantine
7. " The Authenticity Project, " by Clare Pooley • Fiction • About: A solitary green notebook brings together six strangers who all honestly share the truth about their lives. Read the USA TODAY review .
7. "The Authenticity Project," by Clare Pooley • Fiction • About:A solitary green notebook brings together six strangers who all honestly share the truth about their lives.  Read the USA TODAY review.
Pamela Dorman Books
8. " The House in the Cerulean Sea, " by TJ Klune • Fiction • About : Linus Baker must determine whether six magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world while orphanage master Arthur Parnassus will do anything to protect them.
8. "The House in the Cerulean Sea," by TJ Klune • Fiction • About: Linus Baker must determine whether six magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world while orphanage master Arthur Parnassus will do anything to protect them.
Tor
9. " Oona Out of Order, " by Margarita Montimore • Fiction • About : It ’ s New Year ’ s Eve 1982, and Oona Lockhart is about to turn 19, when at the stroke of midnight, she faints. She awakens, and it ’ s 32 years in the future and she ’ s 51. Read the USA TODAY review .
9."Oona Out of Order," by Margarita Montimore • Fiction • About: It’s New Year’s Eve 1982, and Oona Lockhart is about to turn 19, when at the stroke of midnight, she faints. She awakens, and it’s 32 years in the future and she’s 51. Read the USA TODAY review.
Flatiron
10. " Red, White & Royal Blue, " by Casey McQuiston • Fiction • About : Alex Claremont-Diaz is the handsome, single son of the American president, and he ’ s got a beef with Prince Henry across the pond that turns into something more.
10. "Red, White & Royal Blue," by Casey McQuiston • Fiction • About: Alex Claremont-Diaz is the handsome, single son of the American president, and he’s got a beef with Prince Henry across the pond that turns into something more.
Griffin
11. " The Giver of Stars, " by Jojo Moyes • Fiction • About : An unlikely group of women defy society ' s norms to deliver books in Kentucky during the Great Depression as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt ’ s traveling library. Read the USA TODAY review .
11. "The Giver of Stars," by Jojo Moyes • Fiction • About: An unlikely group of women defy society's norms to deliver books in Kentucky during the Great Depression as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s traveling library. Read the USA TODAY review.
Pamela Dorman Books
12. " The Southern Book Club ' s Guide to Slaying Vampires, " by Grady Hendrix • Fiction • About : A true crime-loving book club in Charleston, South Carolina, is on the case when a handsome new neighbor moves in and people start dying. Read the USA TODAY review .
12. "The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires," by Grady Hendrix • Fiction • About: A true crime-loving book club in Charleston, South Carolina, is on the case when a handsome new neighbor moves in and people start dying. Read the USA TODAY review.
Quirk
13. " City of Girls, " by Elizabeth Gilbert • Fiction • About : The author of " Eat, Pray, Love " sets this luscious love story in the New York City theater world of the 1940s, exploring female sexuality, promiscuity and fulfillment. Read the USA TODAY review.
13. "City of Girls,"by Elizabeth Gilbert • Fiction • About: The author of "Eat, Pray, Love" sets this luscious love story in the New York City theater world of the 1940s, exploring female sexuality, promiscuity and fulfillment. Read the USA TODAY review.
Riverhead
14. " We Ride Upon Sticks, " by Quan Barry • Fiction • About : Field hockey and witchcraft? A girl ’ s high school field hockey team in the 1980s taps into dark powers to make it to the state finals.
14. "We Ride Upon Sticks," by Quan Barry • Fiction • About:  Field hockey and witchcraft? A girl’s high school field hockey team in the 1980s taps into dark powers to make it to the state finals.
Pantheon
15. " The Big Finish, " by Brooke Fossey • Fiction • About : Duffy Sinclair does not want to rock the boat at the idyllic Centennial Assisted Living, but when his roommate ' s granddaughter shows up, all bets are off.
15. "The Big Finish,"by Brooke Fossey • Fiction • About: Duffy Sinclair does not want to rock the boat at the idyllic Centennial Assisted Living, but when his roommate's granddaughter shows up, all bets are off.
Penguin
16. " Separation Anxiety, " by Laura Zigman • Fiction • About : Judy is in mid-life limbo: Her career has crashed and burned, her son has hit his obnoxious teens, and she can ’ t afford to divorce her pot-addled husband. Oh, and she ’ s taken to carrying the dog around with her in a baby sling.
16. "Separation Anxiety," by Laura Zigman • Fiction • About: Judy is in mid-life limbo: Her career has crashed and burned, her son has hit his obnoxious teens, and she can’t afford to divorce her pot-addled husband. Oh, and she’s taken to carrying the dog around with her in a baby sling.
Ecco
17. " Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, " by Gail Honeyman • Fiction • About : Eleanor Oliphant ' s isolated lifestyle changes when she befriends Raymond, an IT guy from the office, and Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk
17."Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine," by Gail Honeyman • Fiction • About: Eleanor Oliphant's isolated lifestyle changes when she befriends Raymond, an IT guy from the office, and Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk
Penguin
18. " A Bad Day for Sunshine, " by Darynda Jones • Fiction • About : When Sunshine Vicram returns to the town of Del Sol, New Mexico, as the elected sheriff, she expects her biggest crime to be an elderly flasher. But things get serious fast when a teenage girl goes missing and a kidnapper is on the loose.
18. "A Bad Day for Sunshine," by Darynda Jones • Fiction • About: When Sunshine Vicram returns to the town of Del Sol, New Mexico, as the elected sheriff, she expects her biggest crime to be an elderly flasher. But things get serious fast when a teenage girl goes missing and a kidnapper is on the loose.
St. Martin's Press
19. “ It ’ s Not All Downhill from Here, ” by Terry McMillan • Fiction • About : When a sudden loss upends Loretha Curry ’ s full and happy life, she and her loyal friends band together to figure out how to keep thriving.
19.“It’s Not All Downhill from Here,” by Terry McMillan • Fiction • About: When a sudden loss upends Loretha Curry’s full and happy life, she and her loyal friends band together to figure out how to keep thriving.
Ballantine
20. " The Sweeney Sisters, " by Lian Dolan • Fiction • About : When the three Sweeney sisters throw an Irish wake for their late father, a fourth sister appears out of nowhere and shakes things up.
20. "The Sweeney Sisters," by Lian Dolan • Fiction • About: When the three Sweeney sisters throw an Irish wake for their late father, a fourth sister appears out of nowhere and shakes things up.
William Morrow
21. " All Adults Here, " by Emma Straub • Fiction • About : When Astrid Strick witnesses a school bus accident, it shakes up her life and the lives of those she loves and she decides to come clean with her family about her relationship with her female hairdresser. Read the USA TODAY review.
21. "All Adults Here," by Emma Straub • Fiction • About: When Astrid Strick witnesses a school bus accident, it shakes up her life and the lives of those she loves and she decides to come clean with her family about her relationship with her female hairdresser. Read the USA TODAY review. 
Riverhead
22. " Big Summer, " by Jennifer Weiner • Fiction • About : Two long-estranged friends are brought back together when Drue shocks Daphne by asking her to be the maid of honor at her big summer wedding in Cape Cod. Read the USA TODAY review.
22. "Big Summer,"by Jennifer Weiner • Fiction • About: Two long-estranged friends are brought back together when Drue shocks Daphne by asking her to be the maid of honor at her big summer wedding in Cape Cod. Read the USA TODAY review.
Atria
23. " The Happy Ever After Playlist, " by Abby Jimenez • Fiction • About : Two years after the death of her fianc é , Sloan Monroe struggles to get her life back on track when she happens to fall in love, with a dog.
23. "The Happy Ever After Playlist," by Abby Jimenez • Fiction • About: Two years after the death of her fiancé, Sloan Monroe struggles to get her life back on track when she happens to fall in love, with a dog.
Hachette
24. " If I Never Met You, " by Mhairi McFarlane • Fiction • About : After being dumped by her boyfriend and discovering his new girlfriend is pregnant, all at the same law firm as her, Lauri creates a " fauxmance " with the office playboy. But it will it stay faux for long?
24. "If I Never Met You," by Mhairi McFarlane • Fiction • About: After being dumped by her boyfriend and discovering his new girlfriend is pregnant, all at the same law firm as her, Lauri creates a "fauxmance" with the office playboy. But it will it stay faux for long?
William Morrow Paperbacks
25. " Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life, " by Tara Schuster • Nonfiction • About: The author shares her path to " re-parenting " herself and practicing self-love through daily rituals.
25. "Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life,"by Tara Schuster • Nonfiction •About: The author shares her path to "re-parenting" herself and practicing self-love through daily rituals.
The Dial Press
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